Smoking Ban

[Buenchico]

Somebody's going to start the discussion, so as might as well be me!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-29623851

I'm happy to support the idea but it's not something that I feel strongly enough about to join public demonstrations or write to my MP. Also, I'd prefer it to come about through national legislation, rather than leaving smokers to check individual rules for each park or public space that they visit.

Your views, please!

[Svejk]

you can enjoy a smoke-free drink,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,if you can find a pub that hasn't shut down.

[naomi24]

I’m not a smoker, but this systematic stripping away of individual freedoms really annoys me. I can understand the ban in enclosed spaces, but I agree with Chris in that any legislation should be introduced on a national scale rather than locally. If any government is so worried about the health risks it should put its money where its mouth is and ban the sale of tobacco altogether.

[B00]

lol, like to see this one being enforced -who's going to police it? They can't even combat litter dropping or dog fouling (the picking up of), perhaps they should fully eradicate those before trying a 3rd one.

[EDDIE51]

It mentions obese people and fast food shops near schools. Possibly better to ban obese from fast food shops.

[mikey4444]

Naomi...I am a libertarian myself but you don't give freedom to one small group of people, by taking it away from a larger group. It only takes a few smokers to ruin it for the majority who don't smoke. This "stripping away of individual freedoms" issue was brought up a few years ago, when people were discussing smoking in Pubs, but people still go to Pubs and I repeat, the sky has yet to fall in. The smokers either stand outside or go to a "smoking shelter"

A friend has just come back from Lanzarote, with all the family, including a one year old baby. This was the babies first experience of a beach, but their enjoyment was ruined by hundreds of cigarette butts ground out in the sand, as he kept picking them up. After a couple of hours, they admitted defeat and went back to their hotel. My friend also said that he sees many more smokers abroad these days, then he now sees in Britain.

Here are some stats on smoking rates in Britain ::

"As recently as 1979, some 45% of the British population smoked, but this was down to 30% by the early 1990s, 21% by 2010, and 19.3% by 2013, the lowest level for 80 years. An annual No Smoking Day has occurred in March since 1984"

Proof that good public health campaigns work

[Old_Geezer]

My view is that whilst the goal is admirable enough, it raises questions about personal rights and how far one can go compromising them in society, and the ability to enforce can't be easy. Will there be large notices everywhere saying you are entering a smoke free zone ? Will there be wardens patrolling shouting, "Put out that light !" ? I think the practicalities alone make this a no go. One should encourage the habit to be left in history, but I think one needs a better way to do so.

[naomi24]

Mikey, //The smokers either stand outside or go to a "smoking shelter"//


That’s the point. Outside no one need be affected by other people smoking. They can walk away.

As for your friend's experience, I'd hazard a guess that that smokers who left their cigarettes stubs on the beach are also the people who leave their other rubbish on the beach. Litter louts – but that’s a different issue altogether.

[Retrochic]

Freedom for smokers? Last week OH and I went up to town for a day off,nice lunch the weather was gorgeous so we decided to eat on the terrace of our favourite French Bistro. We were surrounded by selfish smokers who thought it was quite acceptable to light up and smoke while others were trying to eat their food. I really don't care if smokers want to kill themselves its their choice, but I want the freedom to sit outside a restaurant, walk in the park or shop in the street without having to inhale their second hand smoke. A ban on cigarettes in all public places including outside should be priority, hard to Police, but at least if its against the Law you have the ammunition to ask someone put their cigarette out if its bothering you .

[mikey4444]

OG...I have yet to see hoards of Smoking Wardens patrol our Pubs and restaurants, but I haven't seen anybody disobey the smoking in public places laws, at least not since the first few weeks of the ban years ago. Nobody said that this was going to easy but because it might be difficult is no reason not to go forward. Faint heart never won fair woman, as the Bard said !

[ummmm]

So where can they smoke?

[mikey4444]

The same place that they masturbate, fart, spit, flagellate themselves, or any other sort of behaviour...in the privacy of their own homes Ummm.

[Old_Geezer]

In buildings someone is responsible for enforcement. In public places no one is responsible is someone strays from one place to another. Makes a difference.

[mikey4444]

Come on TTT...help me out here !

[Svejk]

OG's such a lovely, sensible old geezer. I wish there were more people like him in the world. ;)

[THECORBYLOON]

There are various towns and cities in the country where authorities have imposed a ban on the consumption of alcohol in specific areas so I cannot see why a smoking ban would be any different or difficult to enforce.

[ToraToraTora]

Anything that stops this disgusting habit being forced on the public is good. As usual the smokers spout their usual cobblers abput taxation. If you add the indirect costs of smoking they'd be £50 a packet. They won't ban it because as they know prohibition does not work. Simply, smoking should be made to appear like a disease to the young, they should not be able to see the addicts every day. The cost should be very high and Smokers should be forced out of sight in their own homes and gardens. The sooner we consign this disgusting habit to history the better.

[Retrochic]

Why do smokers go on about their 'right' to smoke in public places? The only way to stop this utterly selfish 'right' is to take it away. You should only have the right to pollute the air in the privacy of your own home or garden. I should have the right to sit or walk in the open air without inhaling your second hand fumes.

[ToraToraTora]

How was that for you ummmm! Mikey just got in!

[mikey4444]

I knew you would be out of bed sooner or later TTT ... :-)

I have to go to work now, so keep this pot simmering while I am away please.

[ummmm]

To be honest I don't care where they ban it. I think pubs are nicer without it, I think travelling is nicer without it but parks are vast, If you're walking your dog and there's not a soul insight, what's the harm?

Mikey...surprised you said in your home considering how many households have children.

And no, in an ideal world they wouldn't have started smoking in the first place, but they did, and it was legal, and it remains legal.